College of the Desert vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA with Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saddleback College is larger than College of the Desert based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 12,861 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, CA (Small City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Desert is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Desert 26:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

College of the Desert vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Desert or Saddleback College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saddleback College than College of the Desert ($8,122 vs. $18,169).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 2.4% lower than at Saddleback College ($25,151 vs. $25,769).
• College of the Desert is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $170 more per year; $1,326.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.6% higher at Saddleback College than at College of the Desert (about $1,686 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Desert than at Saddleback College (88% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 48.2% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,822 vs. $4,603).

College of the Desert vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Desert or Saddleback College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Saddleback College and College of the Desert.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Desert - Open admission; Saddleback College - Open admission.

College of the Desert vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Desert and Saddleback College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Saddleback College earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than College of the Desert graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have a $782 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($5,338 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, College of the Desert graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($55 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 35%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.